I remember 20 years ago you said to me "I wanna *do something* with my skateboarding." Well you're doin it and doin and doin it well. Thank you for producing a wholesome, enjoyable channel.

guess who’s back Back again Ben is back Tell a friend!

So good to see you so soon man!

Ben Degros the Bob Ross of skating youtubers

there's nothing i like more on youtube than long format videos getting straight to the point from the start! huge sign of respect for the audience, you're awesome man

Loving the Canadian graffiti. “Clean ur trash” “recycle” Ps ben your “injury” tricks are so good to help me see the basics to help me improve my tricks.

The park is perfect environment for the small wheels, smooth with small distances, don‘t have to push much or speed up for anything. a small transition and curb, just what they are good for. But leave the park and it’s over. The big wheels will be comfortable two pushes fast or more. Stability on fast ollies and tricks is way beyond. Also they are not intended for flat little parks

I’ve switched to a bigger wheel recently, my first impression was that I could go further with a few pushes, and also it made me pop higher when i did 50-50. In conclusion, it was a great decision.

Kinda cool that you can have a different take on a wheel with another rider. So many variables with skateboarding. Never gets boring.

Recently salvaged some super tiny wheels (maybe 48mm?) from a found junk board. As someone who is still a beginner (~1 year) I found them to be great for first attempts at new tricks. Being low to the ground feels much safer, and the slower roll seems to reduce the likelihood of slipping out or doing the splits if I miss the landing. It also enhances the "toy" feeling, it's more of a balance board than a vehicle. Looking forward to the day when I have the board control to skate in the street with tiny wheels, but NYC streets seem like they require 54mm or larger. As much as I would like to stick to 1 setup, it's just more fun to have weirder options, especially if I'm just salvaging old parts as opposed to buying them.

Currently riding the same 42mm wheels but in white. I got back into skating and wanted to set up my board like it was in the 90s. Purple stained 8" blank, Thunders, and 42mm wheels. I love this setup. The Thunders are the titanium version so pretty sure my setup with the tiny wheels is one of the lightest possible. Sometimes it's hard not to over rotate on flips.

this is so nostalgic for me... I remember I quit skating in like 1990, and I remember the my friends who still skated the next few years the wheels got so TINY. And the board shape disappeared, and suddenly it was all street skating. And a bunch of new companies like "new deal" and "blind". I feel like I kinda missed out. Oh well, I caught the late 80's dying of the ramp star into street skating. I got to skate my Hensley H-Street board... arguably the most notable company to usher in the new era of skateboarding.

I'm 30 and re-learning to skate. Found your channel today and love it!

Just found your channel over the last few days and watching as many as I can. Very informative with the fu attitude You have in the later videos . I have a Few more years on you at 45 but no kids so I think that makes us even.I’m only 2% of your level but having so much fun learning while scared shitless doing a pop shove it. Landed my first one today. Stoked Thanks for your hard work and info Cheers mate

Love your carpentry videos and your skate videos. I started skating in 1990 myself and had 39mm wheels that were worn down within a millimeter of the bearings in 1992-3, though I started on 60mm Cockroach wheels and worked my way down over the years, and then back up after that.

The cam guy tricks so naturally on the big wheels :chef's kiss.

Great video and good to see you back. One thing I wanted to add is that 60mm wheels really help when it comes to skating transition, especially bigger transition like vert ramps or large pools, where you need the extra speed to gain momentum for airs or transfers. Without a 60mm wheel, it’s going to be hard to generate enough speed to get up a vert wall, especially enough speed for getting above the coping. Harder 60mm+ wheels are especially good for concrete parts, and in Philly a lot of the FDR regulars swear by 103+ duro 60mm+ wheels. I personally have two setups, one with 54-56mm for street, and another with 60mm for transition.

So awesome to see you on the tube again 🤙🏽 love watching the old school brought back. I also have a torn meniscus right now and I haven’t been on my board in 2 weeks so to see a video from you is helping me not go so crazy not being able to skate. I can vicariously live out my skate dreams through you even though you have the same injury as me lol I’ve never torn my meniscus before so how long until you can start doing some flip tricks would you say? I’m scared 😱

Happy to see a new video, hope the knee is making a good recovery!

Your videos are always super informative and interesting to watch and your knowledge and experience are really helpful when I am looking to try new (for me) stuff. Keep up the good work.

Nice to see you 👍 I prefer 56-58 (on 9inch decks and trucks) for pump-tracks and bowls, and cruising the streets is much more fun on a big setup. But learning ollies and flip tricks is easier with 52-53mm (on a smaller board).

I been riding a lot of 58 and 60 wheels. Gotta keep Matt Reason's memory alive

Good to see a vid from you! Hope you get to 100%. Great vid. One thought I seem to have is that the era of when you came into your own style plays heavily into your preference. I own our local skate shop and I have seen how this bias plays out many times. Anyway thanks ben you're awesome

Totally been looking forward to a new video!! Idk if you remember talking to me thru comments on one of your older videos but I did end up getting a board and skating. Since then I’ve been hoarding shoes and skate stuff lol. I got 2 new decks ready to be set up and a few pair of shoes ready to be destroyed. Sigh…….life’s good 😎

Saw the thumbnail and I clicked. Then realized it was the Vancouver Carpenter! Watched a ton of videos renovating my garage this past month. I guess I missed the ones mentioning you skate!

I’m currently riding 60mm 90a Rat Bones. Never knew they made 97a in Rat Bones. Glad to see that you’re back.

I started skating in about 1987, so it was big wheels all the way....stopped in about 92 and that is when the smaller wheels were just starting to become more mainstream....fast forward to 2021, I started skating again (at 48 lol) and the smallest wheels I can use are 60mm on an 8.5 deck and at first they felt small!! While I change hardness depending on skate conditions, my wheel size stays at 60mm and I have finally adjusted to them. Thanks for the video Ben and feel better!

You said 55 is the sweet spot for big wheels and I couldn’t agree more!!Once they ride down to 54-53 they’re amazing, especially Spitfires. - Great vid Ben loved the energy in this!

Woooow Ben I was so happy to see this video pop in my subscriptions. It's so good to be see you on the board and having fun! Thanks for the awesome video

Love this comparison and interesting to see how both of you prefer different wheels. In '88 I was skating 66mm Santa Cruz Bullets in the street. Ridiculous I know, but adpated my ollie to it. Was fast and actually kind of great for launch ramps...yeah, the 80s.

You're BACK! Please keep making skate videos. You're one of the best. just look at any FB poll asking for skate channels.

When the wheels got huge again I went up slowly from 52 or so to 54, 55, 57 and then stopped at 58. Went back down to 57 and those seemed good. As they went back down I was slow again so 55,56 and so on, I stopped at 51 and went back up to 52 and stayed there pretty much for life. I guess to me is if done gradually you can get used to almost anything until you start taking it too far.

It’s been raining so much lately in Vancouver I’m deprived of skating.. good to see you were able to get a sesh in before that

Omfg dude became the mr. Rodgers of skateboardings neighborhood with that intro. No disrespect ment that stuff was dope.

Hell yeah , another video by Ben , I gain so much insight i swear

1 benefit missed was less wheelbite on a 7.5 deck with low trucks ( everyone was skating low Ventures then). I tried 48mm/72a golie inline wheels. They wore down FAST but they were SUPER smooth w/good bearings. It fad explosive pop! Thanks for risking yourself for this, it's super rad to have you back, if only every now & then. Oh, truck comparison vid maybe( low vs. high for high speed stability, like down hill)? P.S...Please be careful.

Glad to see your spirits are up despite the injury. Keep it up Ben :)

Good to see you feeling better and back on the board sir!

Hell yeah! Stoked to see you again! We need more 🤙🏼🙏🏼

Thanks for making this one Ben. I'm glad to see that you're back and that you're knee is starting to feel better. I skated back in the 80s and started up again a year or so ago and have been watching your channel. I was hoping you would do a video on big wheels at some point. When I started up again, I started with 53mm Mini Logo A Cuts. I have tried the following wheels since then: Mini Logo A Cut 53mm 101A, Mini Logo A Cut 55mm 90A, Mini Logo A Cut 58mm 90A, Bones STF 53mm v3 103A, Mini Logo AWOL 80A in 55mm, 59mm, and 63mm, Powell Peralta G Bones 64mm 97A. I've mainly been just carving around, doing manuals, and straight ollies on rough asphalt. What I have learned is that I absolutely hate the small wheels that are currently being used and became popular after I quit around 1990. They are extremely slow. My current favorite wheels for cruising are the AWOL 80A 63mms. It is a night and day difference speed-wise on those wheels compared to 53mm Bones or Mini Logo A Cut. They are dramatically faster and just way funner for cruising around. I think the width of the wheel makes a big difference too, speed-wise. For example, I found that the 59mm AWOLs are much faster than 58mm A Cuts. The AWOLs are like 44mm wide, about double the width of the A Cuts. I figured the narrower wheels would have less rolling resistance and would be faster, but, that wasn't the case. Also, I found that the AWOLs are way faster than the 64mm G Bones 97A. I think the soft wheels absorb the vibration better and let the bearings roll faster. I'm using Mini Logo bearings which I like. They are awesome with the AWOLs. Way fast. And I've been thinking there isn't really any need for expensive bearings, not with soft wheels anyway. Maybe it would make a difference for hard wheels. I'm glad to see that Adriano was killing it with the big wheels. It give me hope. I'm not doing many tricks at this point, but, I'm hoping to add some as I get better. Maybe if all I did was skate really smooth park cement, I wouldn't mind the small wheels, but, I absolutely hate them on rough asphalt, or just asphalt in general. They are extremely slow. And actually, I just order some 90A Rat Bones before I saw your video. I'm hoping they are faster than the 97A G Bones, but, slide better than the AWOLs. If so, maybe that will be my new favorite wheel.

I watch this dude doing nonstop drywalling videos and here he is shredding-the-gnar on the low

Was totally content when you said you were taking a break, but even more happy to see you back. You make great content sir

Crazy!!! I remember watching KOTR and they did a 90s challenge and they had Mike Carroll come out. They had a setup with 42 mm and he said, "wow i used to think 42mm wheels were too big." So crazy to think how skateboarding evolved!

Psyched you’re on the mend! I grew up in suburban Philly, and got all misty-eyed at the Eastern Exposure mention. I tried riding those Physics Matt Reason’s (63mm) back in ‘96, which resulted in a blown ankle. Never had the muscle ambition for that required stomp 😂

Another great in depth review my friend. Thank you I will stick to the radial slim 52s haha 👍

Laid up after the hospital stole my appendix and this was the last video I was expecting to see!!! Glad your back man!!

It’s amazing how quickly you build up muscle memory on a board set up which is probably why you felt your wheels touch on the rock and roll. Once upon a time I had 60mm wheels on 126s and a 7”5/8 board 😂.

i tore 2 meniscus so far. the first they partially removed, and after some intense rehab i was doing amazingly well. that happened at 30. now, at 38 i feel like i tore one in the other leg. i get the EXACT same feeling of pain that i got from the previous one, but it just isn't as bad. you learn to live with it, and you just have to deal with the times when it's hurting and take advantage when it's good. the doctor performed the surgery on me told me that men who did athletics their entire life will all have meniscus issues, so it's very common. it seems like every once in a while the torn part just balls up in the knee joint and can hurt really bad, but it wiggles its way back out eventually and all is back to normal until it happens again.

Glad you’re doing better! God Bless you and yours

Good to see you again, back in the 90s we used to lathe old 80s bones down to 40mm, what were we thinking! oh and the baggy pants..

that little clip with Ben was great, you should maybe think of posting some interviews I'd love to see the full clip of that or a career retrospective with him.

This was a fun video! I'm still shocked how sketchy the little wheels felt. 😂

I remembered you said you were going to repair a pair of dunks a little back and was wondering if you still planned to. Glad your back man.

Loved the video man! I didn't even know they made wheels that small. Glad you're better!

Never seen you smile so much as in this one, guess the nostalgia got you :) Fun video!!

I’m surprised you’re posting videos. Glad to see you rolling about.

The last wheels I skated in the 80's were Phillips 66s. Coming down to a 52-53 and going to a popsicle at the same time in the early 2000's was was almost like learning to skate all over again!

I love the comparison of your two styles for this video. Definitely checking out his channel now but y'all should make more videos together... also I hope your knee heals quickly!

I just got the Boardy cake 39s and 42s Best wheels for that 90s feel 😎

Just in my head was like I miss Ben then this pops up

I think a good summary for this ep would have been; If you are unsure or just curious if you would prefer big or small wheels, get a set of small wheels and a set of big wheels. Give both of em a good skate and see which feels better. I think I like it in between. On the larger side but still small for alot of people.

Hey 👋 what’s up Ben shot out ! From fountain hills AZ been watching your channel the last couple weeks your videos have helped me a lot in the process of tuning my set up. So I do an experiment with Diamond 💎 brand hardware~ weighing each one on a digital scale in GRAMS here are the results for each of the following specific models : Gustavo: 46g Mariano: 46g Pudwell: 40g and just for fun the heavyweight O’Neal hardware : a HEFTY 47g Thanks for all you do bro ! BLESSINGS 😎 🌞

I had some plan b 38mm joints back in 93. My buddy had similar ones that were multi colored and came in a cereal box. Pushing was difficult lol.

60 mm Rat bones were a medium sized wheel in the late 80s, you also had the 66 mm Bullets and T-bones among others, big and soft, perfect for bombing hills.

We rocked big wheels in the late 90’s early 00’s after the tiny wheel era ended. At least me and my friends did. I remember rocking a 7.5 deck with riser pads and 58mm Powell mini logos for a while.

Hell yeah I didn't expect anything from you in a while! I was pleasantly surprised!

Excellent job 👏 👍 👌 🙌 😀

I'm 52 and just went Skateboard Crazy. I've bought 6 boards in less than a month's time. I grew up on the 10 inch boards. I'm 6ft 240lbs so I feel like a Gorilla on a tricycle on 8 inch boards. I hate the sound the smaller hard wheels make and they feel so slow!!! Great Video!

Hell yeah Ben!! Great to see you back!

Glad you're still pushing around Ben

Ive moved away from my popsicle and started skating my shaped deck more and more. I'm on a Welcome Darklord 9.75 with Indy 169s. 1/4 risers belt better for me so I ended up with 58mm wheels and it's like the gnarliest monster truck street deck ever.

Hell yeah Ben! Glad you're back, brother 🤘

Still recovering from my miniscus injury i held my breath every time you landed a trick. Ive gotn to the point where i can skate again, but we're starting to get some snow and icy roads now so its getting scary.

For people like me who live in a country with a small skateboard culture, you are the best!

Yeah! Hes back! Crazy that we used to skate those tiny wheels in early 90's..spitfire grapes🍇, spitfire cherries🍒

Dude I love your channel man. This is like Bill Nye the science guy vibes but for skate theory.

Great vid. Good to see ya back.

It's funny how the Real smalls came in six packs, keeping small wheels even weirder. In 1990 lil' smokies were 53.5 mm, the perfect size for me. Fun facts!

After years of using 54mm wheels and 149 independent, I switched the 53mm and 144 independent. I still use an 8.25 board. It changes the fun. My original setup made me feel like I was just along for the ride at times. Now I feel like I am in control of everything I do. I don't want to say what's better but I seem to be having more fun. Also, I feel like I am getting a better workout.

Engineer in me cannot help but to point this out...mil is a thousandth of an inch not a mm. It messes us up all the time in my job...stupid imperial. Love your videos Ben, you've even helped me with DIY drywall!

Great to see ya back 🇬🇧🇬🇧

I used to skate smalls and took a chopped down broom with me on a session... so I could sweep the area free of pebbles before I'd start xD

great to see a new video from you. feels like ages since you uploaded

I'm a big wheel dude too. I been through all the wheel changes from 83- current. The smallest wheel I've ever bought was 48mm real lowriders. I had world boards around this time. I was stoked when bigger wheels became available again. I'm best from 50-58 mm Flag you're feeling a bit better Ben

That sound of axle ends biting concrete on missed flips. Small wheel memories!

good stuff buddy kills it with the big wheels.

What a great little park. I have the 49mm boardy cake Round Ups, they're 👍

I had or have some Alienworkshop 30mm wheels somewhere. With the rough terrain here I'm using a heavily modified setup. 60mm 83a? 78a? Alva translucent green wheels. 9.0 blank (wheel base is a little short). Independent trucks, not sure width without measuring but the offset wheels matchup perfectly with the deck. Riser pads but not sure thickness. And a longer kingpin with the hardest Independent barrel bushings.

good to see ya smiling, Ben!

Something else to experiment with and maybe it could be a video is the correlation of wheel grip and truck tightness. I skate transition and my local bowl is slick. I changed my bushings out and tightened my trucks too tight. I was sliding out all over the place. As I loosened my trucks I slid out less and less. As I get better at powerslides I want to play with this a bit more. I'm curious if you noticed it though.

Thanks for the time stamps my man 👏🏽👋🏽👍🏽 good vid 👌🏾

For me the perfect Wheels size are 50 mm Now I'm rocking the tensors mag light low and fifties. Low trucks for life.

I skate 56mm conical full f4s for bowls and transition, 52mm f4 classics for tech. I love them both.

What a great start to my day

Great to see you homie. 😄😎🐿️🛹

The Vancouver carpenter...mind blown...

When I started in 94, I had 38mm wheels. Every little stone was a threat, and everyone was riding very slowly :D

Hi Ben! Good to see you posting!! I have a video request to ask of you anytime in the future. No rush, but I was wondering if you can do an honest review on Film Trucks. I am very interested in them.

Decided to make a early 90s setup and went with polar football shape board with boardy cakes 42mm. I have to say I like the setup a lot. I have 2 more sets of 42’s.

58 og classics are hitting so good rn 😩